Three-fourths of women who have had an abortion say the reason is because they couldn't afford a child, according to a study by The Guttmacher Institute.

The nonprofit Birth Choice Pregnancy Resource Center in downtown Clarkston hopes to eliminate this concern for parents in need by donating basic necessities to them, such as clothing, food and diapers, and also offering adoption referrals. About 300 families were helped last year.

But in order to keep providing services, Birth Choice needs donations.

Executive Director Brenda Savage said, "We have no government funding. We are entirely dependent on donations to keep open the doors."

The nonprofit is holding a breakfast fundraiser at 7 a.m. Friday, April 12 at the Fountains Golf and Banquet Center, 6060 Maybee Road in Independence Township, for $250. Tickets will be sold for $200 for anyone who purchases more than one. Master of Ceremonies is Attorney General Bill Schuette and renowned Dr. Benjamin Carson, a Detroit native, will speak at the event.

Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, is known for being the first doctor to perform a successful surgery separating conjoined twins at the skull in 1987. Most recently, he attended the National Prayer Breakfast with President Obama and railed against many of the policies endorsed by the president. He will retire from Johns Hopkins Hospital this year, and his remarks have led to calls from the Wall Street Journal editorial board to launch a presidential bid in 2016.

"(Carson) will talk about how physicians can bring their personal beliefs into their professional lives," said Savage.

The deadline to RSVP is Tuesday, April 9. The cost of the ticket will include a gourmet breakfast of smoked salmon, beef tenderloin, quiches and bagels with cream cheese. A limited number of tickets are still available. To purchase a ticket, call 248-620-5353. For more information, visit birthchoiceresource.com.